IMAGE REPRODUCTION APPARATUS
According to one embodiment, an image reproduction apparatus includes: a display device configured to display an image represented by a video signal; and a reproduction module including an insertion port into which an optical disc is inserted, and configured to reproduce a video signal, wherein the display device and the reproduction module are provided in a same casing; and the display device is caused to display an image representing each of a position of the insertion port and the optical disc to be inserted into the insertion port based on an operation instruction to the reproduction module.
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The application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-237407 filed on Oct. 22, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an image reproduction apparatus configured by providing to a display device (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) device) an optical disc reproducing function of reproducing an optical disc such as a digital versatile disc (DVD) or a blu-ray disk (BD).
2. Description of the Related Art
An apparatus has been known, which has an external connection terminal (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) port) at a place close to a display screen and displays an arrow on the display screen as an image visually indicating a relative position of the external connection terminal.
A general configuration that implements the various features of embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments and not to limit the scope of the embodiments.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the drawings.
The image reproduction apparatus is assumed to be, e.g., an apparatus configured by providing, to a liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus, an optical disc reproducing function of reproducing an optical disc such as a DVD disc or a BD disc. However, the image reproduction apparatus according to the invention is not limited thereto.
The LCD combo 1000 includes a screen 100, and a stand 900 provided under the screen 100 to support the entire LCD combo 1000 including the screen 100.
The LCD combo 1000 incorporates an optical disc drive 520 and has a disc insertion port 510 for allowing a user to insert an optical disc such as a DVD disc and a BD disc into an optical disk drive 520. According to an example illustrated in
As illustrated in
Generally, the LCD combo 1000 is such that the disc insertion port 510 is formed in a side surface thereof, as illustrated in
Because a user cannot directly see the disc insertion port 510, as described above, the user frequently insert the optical disc 500 into the disc insertion port 510 by relying on experience and intuition. This is unnecessary in the case of employing the LCD combo 1000 illustrated in
Whether the image represented by the video signal is displayed on the LCD combo 1000 is controlled by the control CPU 850 which receives at a remote control signal receiving unit 870 a control signal according to a user's operation of a remote control 860 and which controls the entire LCD combo 1000.
When the user inserts the optical disc 500 into the disk insertion port 510, the optical disc drive 520 is activated. In addition, an image represented by video signals output from the optical disc drive 520 is displayed on the screen 100. When detecting the insertion of the optical disc 500, the control CPU 850 controls the LCD combo 1000 to automatically stop the supply of video signals from the tuner 810, and to display on the screen 100 an image represented by the video signals output from the optical disc drive 520. However, the control CPU 850 can control the LCD combo 1000 such that an image represented by the video signals supplied from the tuner 810 is displayed on the screen 100 as it is until receiving a switch signal from the remote control 860.
In addition, a camera lens 891 and a sensor 895 are provided in the vicinity of the disc insertion port 510. Video signals output from the above components and signals output from the sensor 895 are sent to the control CPU 850.
In step S404, the control CPU 850 checks information sent from the optical disc drive 520, which represents whether the optical disc 500 is inserted into the optical disc drive 520. If the optical disc 500 is inserted thereinto (Yes in step S404), the optical disc drive 520 is caused to operate. Then, in step S405, the determination of the type of the optical disc, i.e., which of a DVD disc and a BD disc the optical disc is, the reproduction of the video signals recorded on the optical disc 500, and the like are performed. In step S406, the supply or output of a video signal from the tuner 810 is stopped to prevent an image represented by the video signal from being displayed on the screen 100.
Because the control CPU 850 confirms that the optical disc 500 is inserted into the optical disc drive 520, the user has been able to properly insert the optical disc 500 into the disc insertion port 510. Consequently, the video signals read from the optical disc 500 can be reproduced. Then, the supporting of the user's insertion of the optical disc 500 by displaying the disc insertion screen 150 is completed. Thus, in step S407, the display (see
If the optical disc 500 is not inserted thereinto (No in step S404), the control CPU 850 determines that although the user pushes down the DVD button (not shown) or the BD button (not shown) attached to the LCD combo 1000 or the remote control 860, the user stops inserting thereinto the optical disc (the DVD disc or the BD disc) 500. Then, the screen 100 including the disc insertion screen 150 illustrated in
Consequently, the sensor 895 can detect whether the optical disc 500 approaches the disk insertion port 510. In addition, it can be displayed using the camera lens 891 at what position the optical disc 500 is located with respect to the disk insertion port 510.
Each operation in the process illustrated in
When receiving a signal from the sensor 895 (Yes in step S602), the control CPU 850 activates the camera lens 891 and causes the camera lens 891 to take an image of the vicinity of the disc insertion port 510. In addition, the screen 100 (contents represented by the broadcast waves are displayed in the entire screen 100) illustrated in
If No in step S404, the control CPU 850 determines that the user stops inserting the optical disc 500 into the LCD component 1000. Thus, the control CPU 850 changes the screen 100 including the disc insertion screen 150 illustrated in
If No in step S602, in step S402, the control CPU 850 checks a signal sent from the remote control 860 corresponding to the DVD button or the BD button through the remote control signal receiving unit 870, similarly to step S402 illustrated in
Accordingly, an image sent from the camera lens 891 is prevented from being displayed due to false recognition by the sensor 895 (e.g., when the user applies his hand over his body in order to touch the back surface of the LCD combo 1000) the vicinity of the disc insertion port 510.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
Claims
1. An image reproduction apparatus comprising:
- a display device configured to display an image represented by a video signal; and
- a reproduction module comprising an insertion port configured to receive an optical disc, the reproduction module configured to reproduce the video signal, wherein
- the display device and the reproduction module are provided in a common casing; and
- the display device is configured to display an image representing each of a position of the insertion port, and a position of the optical disc, based on an operation instruction received at the reproduction module.
2. The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display device is further configured to display the image representing each of a position of the insertion port and the position of the optical disc, on a portion of the display device.
3. The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display device is configured to display the image representing each of the position of the insertion port and the position of the optical disc at a position substantially parallel to the insertion port in a longitudinal direction of the display device.
4. The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display device is configured to display the image representing each of a position of the insertion port and the position of the optical disc at a size which is substantially the same as that of the optical disc.
5. The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display device is configured to display the image representing each of a position of the insertion port and the position of the optical disc transparently with respect to display of an image represented by the video signal.
6. The video reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a camera sufficiently near the insertion port to record an image of the optical disc when inserted into the insertion port,
- wherein the image representing each of the position of the insertion port, and the position of the optical disc, comprises an image recorded by the camera, and displayed on the display device.
7. An image reproduction apparatus comprising:
- a display device configured to display an image represented by a video signal;
- a reproduction module comprising an insertion port configured to receive an optical disc, the reproduction module configured to reproduce the video signal; and
- a detection module configured to detect whether an object approaching the insertion port is present, wherein: the display device and the reproduction module are provided in a common casing; and the display device is configured to display an image of a periphery of the insertion port based on a result of detection by the detection module.
8. The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display device is configured to display the image of a periphery of the insertion port on a portion of the display device.
9. The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display device is configured to display the image of a periphery of the insertion port at a position substantially parallel to the insertion port in a longitudinal direction of the display device.
10. The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display device is configured to display the image of a periphery of the insertion port at a size which is substantially the same as that of the optical disc.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 24, 2011
Publication Date: Apr 26, 2012
Patent Grant number: 8682135
Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA (Tokyo)
Inventors: Manabu Nomoto (Hachioji-shi), Yasunori Tsukahara (Kawasaki-shi)
Application Number: 13/280,072
International Classification: H04N 5/775 (20060101);